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Georgian 22K Enamel Memorial Ring for Lord St. John, 1805, Important Maker

Name: Georgian 22K Enamel Memorial Ring for Lord St. John, 1805, Important Maker
Brand: Benjamin Smith
Price: 2250 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

For those that love Georgian jewelry and find mourning pieces and their personal history fascinating, this is a wonderful find - an 1805 high karat gold mourning or memorial ring for Henry Beauchamp St. John, the 13th Baron St. John of Bletsoe, made by important maker Benjamin Smith. Crafted of solid 22K gold with elegant black enamel, the ring is a wide band with still crisp and clean enamel, memorializing this member of England's peerage. Fully hallmarked, beautifully detailed and in amazing condition, this lovely piece of history will arrive in an old leather case. (I enjoyed reading online about the Saint John family, going back to the 1st Baron St. John, who was the great great grandson of the maternal grandmother of King Henry VII. (the Barony of Beauchamp of Bletsoe was created in 1363. Their seat was both Bletsoe Castle and Melchbourne Park) Henry Beauchamp St. John was the second son of the 12th Baron Saint John of Bletsoe, and was born in August, 1758. He married Emma Maria Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Samuel Whitbread the Elder (an extremely successful London brewer and MP, who was an advocate for the abolition of slavery) in December 1780. They had four daughters and one son, who sadly died in 1791 at only age 7. Their London home was in Westminster, while their country seat was Melchbourne park. Henry died after a long illness in 1805. Interestingly, in the research I've done I have seen the date of his death stated as both the 17th of December as the ring specifies, and also as December 18, 1805. The 14th Baron St. John of Bletso was then Henry's younger brother, who was a barrister at Lincoln's Inn and had been a Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire.) Now on to the ring itself: Measuring approximately 7.83 mm wide and approximately 1 mm thick, the band combines the rich buttery 22K gold with glossy black enamel. The gold lettering reads: "Lord. St. John. Died. 17. Dec. 1805. Aged 47." A black enamel border & reeded borders decorate both top and bottom edges of the ring, with both enamel and details in gorgeous condition. I can see with magnification that some of the original milgrain/beaded outer edge has worn somewhat smooth, and there is a little superficial scratching inside the band - otherwise, this piece is in excellent condition. During this period 22K gold was given the same hallmarks as silver items, and those original hallmarks are still present inside, along with a maker's mark of B.S., for Benjamin Smith who was an important maker in the early part of the 19th century. (He was part of Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, Royal Goldsmiths from 1797 to 1843, and responsible for the Crown Jewels used at three coronations, as well as many jewels and plate now in the Royal Collection.) Weighing 4.61 grams on my scale, the ring fits a little over a size 6 and cannot be sized due to the enamel work. (it registers on my mandrel at size 6.5 but the width of the band makes it fit more snugly than that.) It will arrive in an old red leather case that shows quite a bit of wear, but still holds the ring nicely. A fantastic bit of history and a beautiful piece of jewelry.

Creator:

Benjamin Smith

Ring Size:

6 US, Not Resizable

Metal:

Enamel

Weight:

4.61 g

Style:

Georgian

Place of Origin:

United Kingdom